Means for filtering air and producing ozone.



S. G. SHAFFNBR.

MEANS FOR PILTERING AIR AND PRODUCING OZONE;

APPLIOATION TILED HAY 10, 1909. v

Patented N0v.29, 1910.

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MEANS FOR. FILTEBING AIB AND rnonucme OZONE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1909.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

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S. G SHAFPNER. MEANS FOR FILTEBING AIR AND PRODUCING OZONE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1909.

977,335. Patented Nov. 29;1910.

6 SHEETS-BHEET 3.

I I I I ,1 75 "73 73 Witness e5: Inventor S. G. SHAFPNBR. MEANS FORPILTBBING AIR AND PRODUCING OZONE.

APPLICATION ZILED MAY 10, 1909. Q 977,335. Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

8 SHEETB-BHEET 4.

gig/Z5565. Inventor- 'a/ ueL aha/772 67 Attorneys S. G. SHAFFNBR.

MEANS FOR FILTERING AIR AND rnonncme OZONE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1909.

977,335. I Patented N0v.29, 1910.

75 v v Vfzi tnesses: Inventor S. G. SHAPFNER. MEANS FOR PILTERING AIRAND PRODUCING OZONE. APPPIOATION IILED MAY 10, 1909.

977,335. Patented Nov. 29, 1910.,

6 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

Fig. 12.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL CL SHAFFNEB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0,. NATIONAL AIRFILTER COMPANY, OF CHIQAGO, ILLINOIS, A OORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

MEANS FOR FILTERING AIR AND PRODUCING OZONE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL CJSHAFFNER,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago,- in the county ofCook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Means for Filtering Air and Producing Ozone, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, concise and exact description, referencebeing had tothe accomquantities as to impartto the air consider-- ableincrease 111 its efiicacy to. support and stimulate animal life:

My invention also has for its object the filtering of the air treatedbywhich particles of impure matter, both organic and inorganic, areseparated from the air and retained by the filtering mechanism.

My invention consists essentiall in ducing zones electrically charge ancausing the 'air to be purified to pass directly through the zonesthus'charged.

In my invention I find it convenientto employ screensfor effecting thedistribution of electrical char e in such a manner that the air beingpurifie must necessarily come in contact with the electrical charges.

In my invention I rality of screens which may be arranged in any desiredmanner and charged from any suitable source of-electricity-that willproduce the desired result." An arrangementthat I have found to be veryeffective is the 'use of a plurality of screens in parallel planes;alternate ones of' such screens being connected to one terminal of ahigh tension transformer, while the intermediate screens are connectedto the other tern'iinalflof such secondary winding, Other arrangementsmay be employed for securin this condition of charge, as, for instance,al of the-screens may be connected to the same terminal of th esecondary winding, and'the condition-of e of all of the screens will inthis case char be 0 the same sign.

By my invention I am able to free'air from the contamination resultingfrom disease germs and various bacill that are deleterious Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed May 10,

prefer to employ a plu -f 1909. Serial No. 495,098.

in their effect upon human life, by bringing these germs and organismsinto contact with result that-the active principle of the germs andorganisms is entirely destroyed, and they are therefore incapablethereafter of producing injurious effects. Furthermore, the condition ofelectrification referred to as a result of being produced by a hightension source, produces ozone in considerable quantities, which, as iswell known to the medical Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

the electrification above described, with the profession, is aninvaluable agent for impartingvto the atmosphere vitiated by use theelements that are needed to promote and stimulate the activities ofanimal organizations, and particularly human beings, in such a manner-asto protect'them in large degree from the attack of disease and to effectthe elimination of disease tendencies which are'so prevalent andresult'so disastrously in} many cases.

The several drawings illustrating my ing vention are as follows Figure 1is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 1, 1 in'} Fig. 2, andshows my of the device taken along the line 2, 2 in through the devicetaken along the line 3,3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig.taken along the line 4, 4 in Fig. 2; Fig. IS a detailviewof a part ofthe base showing in vertical section the arrangement of autosembled;Fig. 10 shows a modification that is adapted for use in locations notprovided with alternating current supply mains, this modificationbeingsimilar in Its operat on to that shown in Figs. land 4, with theexception that itfis adapted to be 0 eratedby direct current supply andthat t e mechanism is diiferently disposed; Fig. 11 is a dia rammaticview of the circuit relations used between the direct current mains andthe transformer in the modification-- shown math...

complete device in its preferred embodiment; Fig. 2 IS a transversesectional view -inatic switch mechanism employed; Fig. 5

Fig. 1;;Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view in Fig. Fig. 12 shows in aView similar erse's a plurality of parallel paths, while in themodification shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the air passes through the screensone after another in seriesrelation. Fig. 13 shows in bottom View thebase used in the modification shown in Fig. 12, and in this figure thecircuit arrangements are shown diagrammatically.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, my device consists of a glass tubelO supported in an annular recess 11 in an insulating base 12. The base12 is provided with feet 13, which separate the bottom of the base fromthe table or stand on which the device may be located. Openings 1 1 areprovided through the base to permit the airto enter under the baseandinto the lower part of the tube lO. The base 12 supports atransformer consisting of a primary winding 15 and secondary winding 16wound upon a spool 17, through and around which a plurality of magneticpaths 18. is arranged. Each magnetic path is composed of laminated ironin order to reduce the magnetic losses resulting from the'transformeraction to a minimum. As shown in Fig. 2, the magnetic paths 18 are sodisposed as not to entirely fill the space within the spool 17 as 10.The magnetic paths'18 support a framev work 19, from which a fan 20 issupported.

a result of which the air entering by the openings 14 is permitted topass between.

the paths '18aiid into the inside of the tube by adjustable pivots 21and 22. The fan 20 is adapted to be rotated by the inductive effect ofmagnets 23 connected to a source of alternating current supply. The base'14: also supports a plurality of bolts or rods 24, 24, six of such rodsbeing used in the construction shown in the drawings. These rods areadapted to support in parallel planes a plurality of screens 25, whichare insulated from the rods as desired by means of glass or porcelaintubing, or other good insulators. As. shown in Fig.1, alternate screens25 are connected to the rod 24, while the intermediate screens 25 areconnected to the rod 246%., Contact other than that indicated isprevented by the use of insulating tubes 26, 27, which serve to spacethe screens 25 from each other and insulate such screens .fromthe rodsas desired. The tube 10 supports at'its upper end a-perforated band 28by means of a flange 29 carried inside of such band. The upper end ofthe band 28 is closed by a cover 30.

The electrical connections involved are as follows: A-plug 31 adapted tobe used in connection with any of the ordinary electrical systems isconnected by WIIBSBZ and t 3.3 with the primary winding 1 of thetransformer. The wires 32 and 33 are also extended in a parallel paththrough wires 3+1- and 35 to the magnets The secondary winding 16 of thetransformer is connected by wires 36 and 37 with the rods 24 and 24*.

As a result, of the connections described, when the plug 31 is connectedto an alternating current source of electricity the transformer isenergized and the screens 25 are highly charged electrically, alternateones of such screens being charged with elec trification of one sign,while the intermediate screens are oppositely charged. The potential ofthe charge may be regulated as desired by the design of the transformerwindings. In, practice I have found it desirable to employ a.sutticiently high potential to roduce an intense condition ofelectrification, such potential, however, not being quite sutlicient toproduce a disruptive discharge between the several screens. Thecondition of disruptive. discharge is to be avoided in all cases, sincethis condition instead of producing the ozone above referred to, whichis particularly desirable, operates to make the air worse than it wasbefore by causing a chemical combination between the nitrog an and oxyen ;of the air to form very poisonous nitrous oxids. i

The fan 20 by its operation imparts an upward tendency to the airadmitted through the base 12, as a result of which this air is passedthrough the screen 25 and thus through the zones of electrical. charge.After passing through'the uppermost screen 25, the. purified andozonized-air is discharged from the device through the perforations inthe band 28. A horizontal annular partition 20 is provided around thefan 20 to prevent local circulation of the air, which would thus renderthe apparatus inoperative.

In the operation of the transformer the magnetic paths 18 will be heatedto a certain extent, and it is to be noted that the heat thus generatedis communicated in large partto the air passing between and around thesemagnetic paths, with the result that the tendency. of the air to passupward in the tube 10 is increased and also that the energy which wouldotherwise be lost in the production of heat in the magnetic paths is inpart made use of. If desired, the fan 20 may be replaced by a lamp orheating coil, which may be connected to the primary circuit for thepurpose of causing the air to be purified to pass through the screens 25and thus through the electrified zones.

In Fig. .4: I have shown amodified arrangement of the screens 25, inwhich all of the screens are connected to the rod 24 which-in turn isconnected by wire 36 with one terminal of the secondary winding 16 ofthe transformer. The other terminal of the secondary winding is entirelydisconnected in tliis'arrangement, andthe condition of static effect, nocondenser action being pres-- ent. In connection with this arrangementof the screens I have shown detlectmg plates 38, 39 of insulatingmaterial, as glass, for" retarding the passage of air toa certain degreeas it goes through the tube 10 and for therefore producing a moreeffective action of the electrification 'upon the air. The plates 38 areof the same external diameter as the screens 23, and each of them isprovided with a central opening of about half the area of one of thescreens 25. These plates 38 are associated with alternate ones of thescreens 25. The plates 39 are associated with intermediateon esof thescreens 25,- and these plates are somewhat larger than the openings inthe'plat e 38 and are so disposed asto be practically over suchopeningsf As a result of this arrangement the air is caused to take theirregular 'paths through the screens 25 indicated by the dottedlines.

In either of the arrangements above described it is to be understoodthat the screens are insulated from all of the rods 24 except thosereferred to as used to make connection with the secondary Winding 16 ofthe transformer. I i

As shown in Figs. 5 and (i, I may employ automatic switches 40 .inconnection with the base 12'for interrupting'the supply circuit when thetube 10 is removed from the base to adjust or clean the device. Theseswitches 40 are connected in circuit as indi- I cated in 'Fig. 6, thesupply, wires 32 and extending to contacts, 41 and 41 The switches 40are connected by wires 42 and 43 to the terminals of the primary winding15 of the 'transformer.-, The switches 40 extend into the annular groove11, as a result.

of which, when the tube 10 is placed in position in the groove, theswitches are presseddown into-engagement with the contacts 41 and 41thus closing the primary circuit. This precauticn I find desirable onaccount of the high potentials developed by the transformer.

Thedetailshown in Fig. 7 illustrates the manner in which a complete andcontinuous zone of electrification may be considered to be produced bythe wires of the screen 25.

' hile this illustration is purely diagrammatic, it illustrates clearlythe impossibility of any air passing through one of the.

screens 25. without coming into'contact and being influenced by theelectrical charge sur--' round ng the wires of-thescreen.

In order to prevent a. tendency to disruptivedisch'arge it is desirablethat all sharp corners 'and projections in connection with the circuitfrom the secondary windingof the transformer be avoided. It is,therefore, desirable to protect the edges of the. screens 25. This maybe done. in a varietyof ways, one of which is indicated in Fig. 8,consisting in forming a thin strip of metal around the edge of eachdisk, thest-ri of metal-when formed being preferably with solder.- Ifdesired, the solder may be used alone to ,cover up the sharp edges leftby cutting the wires of the screen.

The modification shown in Fig. 10 is similar' in the arrangement of thescreens and inclosing tube to that described above. In this arrangementuse is made of a motor generator 44 ada )ted to be run by direct currentand provided with collector rings 45, 45, for transforming the directcurrent in part into an alternating current. tires 46 and 47 lead frombrushes 48 and 49 co-' operating with the collector rings 45 and 45 tothe primary winding lfi of the transformer. The motor generator 44carries upon its shaft a fan 50 located within a shield 1 0 formed uponthe end of the tube 10-01' secured thereto in such a manner that therotation of the fan'fiO forces the, air to be purified through theseveral screens contained within the tube 10. In this modification theother end of the tube 10 is closed by a disk 12, which is provided withav per forated shield 51 to protect the high tension terminals. Theextension 10 serves to prevent 'the air from passing sidewise out of'the'machineafter passing through the fan 50, and also causes all theairQengaged by the fan 50 to pass through the tube 10 and through suchscreens. g 1

While the screens shown in the arrangement of Figs. 1 and 4 are disposedin a horizontal position, and the screens in the modification shown inFig. 10 are disposed in a. vertical position, it is to be understoodthat in either arrangement the screens may be disposed as desired, itnot beingnecessary. to

have the screens'in. any particular position .in order to render th.edevice efiective. BDt-ll of the arrangements of the screens 25 describedabove provide that the airin pass ing through the machine shall passthrough one screen after another in what may be termed a seriesrelation. This arrangement of the screens is desirable to produce thelargest possible quantities of ozone for a given quantityof air. It isnot, however,

as desirable when a smaller amount of ozone is sufficient and it isdesired to purify larger quantities of air. An arrangement of screensadapted to meetthe latter condition is shown in Fig. 12, in which thearrangement is as follows: Assuming 2? general structure of lled machinesimilarto that shown in Fig. 1, a

cylindrical screen 52 is first mounted in position upon the rods 24,24*." Immediately above this screen a ring 3 'f lass is placed. Next, aring 54 of gauze siini ar to the disk 52 is placed upon the ring 53.Next, a glass ring 53 is placed upon the gauze ring 5-1, then a gauzedisk 52, then a glass ring 53 and so on, glass and gauze alternating,every 5 other gauze element being a disk and the intermediate gauzeelements being rings. The; gauze rings 54 are of a sutliciently smalleroutside diameter and a sufficiently larger inside diameter than theglass rings'53 in order that the electrical potential impressed upon thegauze rings '54 and disks 52 may not cause a discharge around the edgesof the rings 53. The gauze disks 52 and rings 54 are connected so'thatalternate ones are in contact with the rod 24, while the intermediateones are in contact with the rod 21,

as indicated. As a result of this arrangement, the secondary potentialdeveloped by the transformer may be materiallyreduced,

since the condenser surfaces formed by the gauze rings and disks arebrought more closely together than in the modification above described.The rings 53 and disk 55 are of smaller diameter than the inside of 25the casing 10. In order to cause the air to pass through the gauze rings54: and disks 52 a glass ring 56 is located immediately beneath thelower gauze disk 52, such ring 56 having an outside diameterrequal tothe inside diameter of the casing 10 and being provided with a hole ofapproximately the same diameter as the hole in the ring 53. As a resultof this construction, when the air is caused to pass upward through thecasing 10 by means of the fan 20 or the heat coil described, it passesinparallel paths radially through the several gauze rings 5-1 and disks52, and after passing therethrough into the space surrounding thesedisks, passes upward in the casing 10 and out through the band 28, as inthe modification described in connection with Figs. 1 and 4.

As shown in Fig. 12, the potential developed by the secondary windingofthe trans-- former may be regulated by means of a switch 58 pivoted tothe base at 59, such switch being operated bya button 6.0 so as to makecontact with any, desired one of the contacts 61, 62, 63 and 64. In thismodifica 5 tion of my invention the primary winding of the transformeris provided with leads '65, 66, 67 and 68 connected to the primarywinding 15 of' the transformer, by means of which the full electromotiveforce, threequarters, one-half or one-quarter of this electromotiveforce, may, be produced, respectively, as desired, according to theposition of the switch 60 uponthe contacts 61, 62, 63 'and64, to whichthe leads 65, 66, 67

60 and 68 are connected. By this modification, wires 32 and 33extendingto the plug 31 are connected, respectively, with one of theterminals of the primary winding 15' andthe pivotal point 59 of theswitch 58. The ar- 5 rangement of the switch 58, contacts 61, 62,

63, 64 and the connections of the primary winding thereto arediagrammatically indicated in Fig. 13, which is a bottom View of thebase shown in Fig. 12. By means ofv this arrangement I am enabled to adjust the voltage developed between the terminals of .the secondarywinding of the transformerl indicated. In this modification the airheated by the coil 57 is caused to pass upward through the machine andprevented from circulating locally by 'a horizontal partition 80.

In the operation of my machine I find that the electrified condition ofthe screens causes the separation of particles of dust and dirt from theair treated and that such dust and dirt is retained by the screens, thusfiltering as well as sterilizing the air.

While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiment hereindisclosed, I

do not, however, limit myself to this construction, but desire to claimbroadly any.

equivalent that will suggest itself to those skilled in the art.

\Vhat I claim is:

-1. Means for filtering air and producing" ozonecomp'rising thecombination of an inclosing casing,' a screen disposed Within thecasing, a. step-up transformer, a connection 1.

from one terminal of the high tension winding thereof to such screen,and means for passing the air to be purified through such screen,thecore of such transformer so disposed as to assist by its h eating'eifect-in circulating the air tobe purified through the casing and throughsueh'screen.

2. Means for filtering air and producing ozone gomprising thecombination of an in- "eloslng-casmg, screens disposed within thecasing, a step-up transformer, a connection from one of the terminals ofthe high tension winding thereof to alternate screens, a t

second connection from the other terminal of the high tension winding tothe intermediate screens, and means for passing the air to be purifiedthrough such screens, the core of such transformer so disposed as toassist by its heating effect in circulating the air to be purifiedthrough the casing and through such screens.

3. Means for filtering air and producing ozone comprising thecombination of an inthe casing and through such screen, the core casing,"a step-up transformer, a connection casing, a step-up transformer, aconnection be purified through the casing and through the core of suchtransformer so disposed as winding 'thereof to alternate screens, a

of such transformer so disposed as to assist posed within and acrossthecasing. a. stepup transformer. a connection from one teri,

minal of the high tension winding thereof to such screen, andanelectrically driven tan for driving the an to be purified through 3 ofsuch transformer so disposed as to assist by 1ts heating effect 1ncirculatmgvthe an to such screen.

l. Means for filtering air and producing ozone comprising thecombinationof an inclosing casing, a screen disposed within the casing,a step-up transformer, a connection from one terminal of the hightension winding thereof to such screen, means for passing the air to bepurified through such screen,

to assist by its heating effect in circulating the air to be purifiedthrough the casing and through such screen, and means for regulating thepotential developed by the high tension winding of the t ansformer.

5. Means for filtering air and producing ozone comprising thecombination of an inclosing casing, screens disposedowithin the from oneof the terminalsof the high tension winding thereof to alternatescreens, a second connection from the other terminal of the high tensionwinding to the intermediate screens, means for passing the air to bepurified through such screens, the core of such transformer so disposedas to assist by its heating effect in circulating the air to be purifiedthrough the casing and through such screens, and means for regulatingthe potential developed by the high tension winding of the transformer.

(3. Means for filtering air and producing ozone comprising thecombination of an inclosing casing, a screen disposed withiu thecasing,'a step-up transformer, a connection from one terminal of thehigh tension winding thereof to such screen, and means for passing theair to be purified through such screen,,the core of such transformer sodisposed as to assist by its heating effect in circulatingthe air to bepurified through the casingand through such screen, such screen adaptedto ozonize and filter the airpassing therethrough.

7. Means for filtering air and producing ozonecomp'rising thecombination of an-cinclosing casing, screens disposed within the.

from one of the terminals of the high tension second connection from theother terminal of the high tension winding to the intermediate screens,and means .for passing the air to be purified through such screens, thecore by its heating effect in circulating the air to be purified throughthe casing and through such screens, such screens adapted to ozonize andfilter the air through.

8. In an .air purifying device, the combi nation of a casing forming avertical passageway, electrodes arranged in the; upper part of saidpassageway in the path of air flow therethrough, a t 'ansformer arrangedin' said passage 'ay below said electrodes and connected with saidelectrodes to create a high potential electrical field adjacentthereto,-said transformer having a core pro-- vided with verticalpassageways, andmeans within .the passageway for generating upward flowof air through said passageways and electrodes whereby said air ispurified by contact with the electrical field and said transformercooled.

9. In an air purifying device, the combination of a casing. forming apassageway for air to be purified, electro disposed in one end of saidpassageway, a transformer within said passageway connected with saidelectrodes to generate a high tension electrical field adjacent thereto,and means for forcing air to be purified to fiow through said passagewayadjacent said electrodes, said transformer having ventilatingpassageways interposed in the path of the air flow whereby saidtransformer is cooled.

10. In an air purifying device, the combi nation of an inclosing casing,a row of electrodes arranged parallelly in said casing and extendingtransversely thereof, and supporting posts for supporting saidelectrodes and having electrical contact with alternate elec-\- trodes,which said supporting posts'being adapted :for'connection with a sourceof elecbe purified, termlnal posts extending from" said base throughsaid passageway, electrodes extendin transversel across said passageway,alternate electrodes havlng electrical connection with one of said postsand the other electrodes having electrical connection with the, otherposts, a transformer mounted on said base within said passageway andconnected with said posts to thereby cause the generation of anelectrical field about said electrodes, and means for forcing air toflow through said passageway and through said electrodes to be purifiedupon engagement with saidelectrical field. v

12. In an electrical air purifying device, electrodes in the form ofwire screen disks each having a smooth surfaced rim engaging about'itsperiphery for preventing disruptive discharges between the electrodes.

13. In combination, a base, a casing de-v tachably mounted on said base,electrical appassing thereparatus within said casing, contactpoints onsaid base having external conductors ported by said base, electrodeswithin said casing, contactarms on said base,,-having connection withsaid electrodes, and contact terminals on said base connectingwithexternal conductors, said contact arms being arranged to disconnect fromsaid contact tPJJllllllHlS when the caslng is removed from the base andto be automatically carried into engagement with said contact terminalsupon application of the casing to the base.

15. In an ozone producing machine, the combination of a base, a casingdetachably mounted on said base, electrodes within said casing. acircuit for connecting said electrodes with a source of current supply,and means whereby said circuit is automatically opened upon removal ofthe casing from said base. I

16. In an electrical air purifying machine, the combination ofasupporting base, a casing mounted on said base, electrodes arrangedwithin said casing at the upper end thereof, a transformer mounted 011said base within said casing and having connection with said electrodesto generate a high potential electrical lieid adjacent thereto, air

inlets into the lower end of said casing, air outlets at the upper endof said casing, and mechanism mounted. oIi said transformer within thecasing for causing upward flow of air through said casing.

within said casing and having connection with said electrodes togenerate a high potential electrical field adjacent thereto, air inletsinto the lower end of said casing, air outlet at the upper end of saidcasing, and mechanism mounted on said transformer within the casing forcausing upward flow of air through said casing, said transformer beingdirectly in the path of such air flow.

18. In a electrical air purifying machine, the combination of a casing,a series of electrodes arranged within said casing and each being in theform of a wire screen, means for generating a high potential electricalfield about said electrodes, means for causing current flow through saidcasing and elec trodes, and baflle plates arranged on said electrodes tocontrol the flow of air therethrough.

19. In an electrical air purifying machine, the combination of a casing,a series of electrodes arranged within said casing and each being in theform of a wire screen, means for generating a high potential electricalfield about said electrodes, means for causing current flow through saidcasingand electrodes,

and battleplates arranged in staggered ar-' rangement on said electrodesto distribute the flow of air through said-electrodes.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of May A.D. 1909.

SAMUEL G. SHAFFNER.

Vitnesses:

ALBERT C. BELL, GEORGE E. HIGHAM.

